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EndSARS protest is one of the most successful protest in Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

October 20, 2020 No Comments

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Monday described the protest against police brutality as one of the most successful movement in Nigeria.

He noted that after the #EndSARS protest , Nigerians will experience a better country where fundamental human rights will be respected.

Mohammed stated this while speaking at a Special NAN Forum on Monday in Abuja.

He noted that the Federal Government would be able to act if the protesters end the protest and allow Government attend to their demands

The Minister regretted that the protest has been hijacked by hoodlums and people with a selfish motive to destabilise the country.

He said the government had started the process of unprecedented reform of the police and the entire internal security structure following the #EndSARS protest.

“With every challenge, there is always an opportunity and the opportunity this protest has given us is to look at a more holistic approach to reforming our internal security.”

“For the first time in the history of this country, a special police tactical unit is being formed which will be supervised not by a Police Command but a committee to be chaired by the governor of each state with representatives of youths and Civil Society Organisations.”

“The committee chaired by the governor will have the responsibility to supervise the way the special security unit relate to the public and carry out its responsibilities.”

“The panel being put up will take complaints from the public with regards to human rights abuses; this has never happened in the history of this country,’’ he said.

Mohammed added that this is the first time that a government is setting up a Victim Support Fund to compensate victims of Police brutality and extrajudicial killings in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“In line with the new Police Act, officers to be enlisted in the new tactical Police unit will be tested psychologically and mentally to be sure that they are fit for the operations.”

“This will put a big check on Police abuse and extrajudicial killing which we have witnessed over the decades,’’ he said.

Politics

Pro-Buhari group seeks police protection for 10 million-man march.

October 19, 2020 No Comments

A group, ‘I stand With Buhari’, has informed the police in Abuja of its plan to hold a 10 million-man march in support of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The Convener of the group, Ogochukwu Ezeaku, said this.He was positive that they would get a favourable response from the police. He said the march would take place at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday. Ezeaku said, “We have informed the police and I am sure there will be no problem.”

When asked if there would be no clash with #EndSARS protesters, Ezeaku said,
“We know the End SARS people to be peaceful. Besides, our protest will take place in one spot which is the Unity Fountain.”
The convener said the march was conceived to show the President that the majority of Nigerians were still with him.
In a separate message on Facebook, the group stated that they would support the #EndSARS movement as long as it focuses on police excesses. It said the moment the protesters called for Buhari’s resignation, they would also launch a counter-offensive.

Many Buharists support #EndSARS but the moment you change the protest to any other silly hashtag you will know that we are 15 million strong!” it said.

Politics, World News

Websites will continue to go down and leaks will continue to pour- International hacker group, Anonymous.

October 19, 2020 No Comments

The international hacker group , Anonymous yesterday released the following statements concerning the End Sars protest by Nigerian youths via their twitter account.

“We don’t know who started the 72-hour ultimatum rumor nor why it is credited to our account. Either way, the Nigerian government has been blindly running in circles all night chasing its own tail.”

Anonymous will not abandon the #EndSARS movement as it grows stronger by the day.

“The money that will be wasted on Operation Crocodile Smile VI is better suited to pay the victims of SARS and the brave protestors hurt by old corrupt men clinging to power. @HQNigerianArmy quit embarrassing yourselves. #EndSARS.”

“There is nothing to expose when your leaders are openly parasites that cling to power to siphon national wealth. Corruption and impunity will not end by hacking websites or bank theft, it’ll end through resistance and innovation in the streets. The world is with you. #EndSARS”

“Websites will continue to go down and leaks will continue to pour, the Nigerian government falls short in cyberspace. They don’t fear ‘Anonymous’ they fear the youth and overall they fear a united Nigeria that exists in the streets and beyond hashtags. That’s the power. #EndSARS”

Politics

ROAD CONDITION IN NIGERIA, THE ROAD TO THE AFTERMATH OF A MISMANAGED NUCLEAR STATION!

October 18, 2020 No Comments

The cases of accidents in our country is mostly caused by the very pitiable condition of our roads aside of the negligence of drivers. The impact of bad roads aside of major and minor accidents is the cost of maintaining vehicles. If the car radiator doesn’t leak, the tyres will get punched or the drive shaft is dislocated.

During the course of my trip , I saw fully loaded trailers coming from various parts of the country , struggling to move along both sides of a narrow road. As a result of this , the road was clumsy and highly risky to ply. Then I thought ,” how do drivers travel through this road on a regular basis ? Is this risk worth taking ? , however they have to survive”. The road wasn’t only narrow but void of illumination at night, this is pathetic!

Technology students and graduates keep studying about how to design pedestrian solar powered street lights and yet this project has not been explored to the level of which it is needed in this country. Unfortunately , we still travel in the dark. It was an hopeless situation when an elderly woman exclaimed in a bitter tone saying the road has been in its terrible condition for over 20 years!

I know the problems faced by Nigeria can be really complex but my question is , are we progressing at all? If we are progressing as a nation , then in no time , the drops of progress will make an ocean of progress. However, it seems like while a few are trying to make things work , majority are ruining things.

The situation Nigeria is struggling with can be illustrated using the atomic reactor as an example. The atomic reactor needs small gram of fuel to generate a large magnitude of electricity . However , depending on how the nuclear power station is properly managed , there is a tendency to either cause havoc to the environment and its inhabitants or keep them save. This seems like what is happening in Nigeria… the very small gram of fuel is the directive given by the few good people in governance while the havoc caused to the environment and its inhabitant is as a result of negligence through the misuse of power , misappropriation of funds and other measures of corrupt activities performed by the bad people in governance and majority of their subordinates. As it is now, the road conditon in Nigeria is likely to be the road to the aftermath of a mismanaged nuclear station.

We are all guilty for either taking part in the abnormalities or keeping quiet. Government encompasses those in power , the subordinates and every single citizen. Are we upholding the law or not ? Are we working for the system or against it ? Do we submit tenders and construct low quality roads after getting the job? Do we give projects to contractors and exploit them? The point is for serious change to happen , we all have to be serious about making it happen!

Politics

WE NEED A REVOLUTION.

October 18, 2020 No Comments

We are Africans, our forefathers suffered greatly under the authority of the colonial masters. They fought for our independence and got it by sacrificing their existence. As Africans, we have one thing in common which is the history of our struggle throughout the years of slavery.

We are Africans but some choose to be outcast. Africans attacking one another and segregating against nationalities is not the best option. Over the years, we have learnt about the struggles of the nation, South Africa. We grew up to respect Nelson Mandela and loved him for the good values he preached. Late Nelson Mandela must be very dissapointed to see the same people whose freedom he suffered for, now attacking Nigerians and other Africans, forgetting the support rendered to them during their years of apartheid. We ought to say no to xenophobia and see one another as a race, the African race!

People ran for their lives from the northern parts of Nigeria because of the insurgency. Even in South Africa , Nigerians who are there to seek greener pastures also got attacked . When will this end? Is our government still sleeping? When will Nigeria get better? We need to fix Nigeria!

War outside, war inside…when exactly are we going to enjoy steady peace in Nigeria? We need a reliable structure , a system which will enable Nigerians to thrive. We can’t always take our ideas abroad and get punished for it just like the recent killings of Nigerians in South Africa. We definitely need a revolution, this is the solution. Nigeria has to be better, this is the greatest assurance we can have as citizens.

It can be recalled from history that Nigerians had been of great help to South Africans during their years of apartheid. As written and cited by ANA-CAJ , apartheid is one dark era in the history of South Africa. Nigeria was the first country to provide direct financial aid to the now ruling African National Congress ( ANC) from the 1960s while in the 1970s, Nigeria supported the ANC and Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) with an annual contribution of $5 million to help them in the struggle.

Nigeria set up a program to cater specifically for the South Africans’ educational needs and general welfare through the Southern African Relief Fund (SAFR) under the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo , who contributed $3.7 million. Nigerian’s civil servants were also made to give 2 percent of their income to the fund, then known as “Mandela tax”. According to SAFR , 86 South African students were educated in Nigeria for free. How then could South Africans forget all these and settle for violence?

Nigerians attacking Nigerians, South African attacking Nigerians, Africans attacking one another…when will there be an end to this violence? Our leaders are sitting in their offices while the citizens are busy killing one another. How long will it take before we snap out of this mental slavery? When will we become wise and realise that violence is never the solution? The solution we ought to seek is a revolution . Remember that quote stated by Mahatama Ghandi, “An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind”.

Politics

We start a nationwide protest on Tuesday. – Varsity students

October 18, 2020 No Comments

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University students under the aegis of the National Association of University Students said they had run out of patience as a result of the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The students said they would express their displeasure with the lingering strike by embarking on a nationwide protest starting from Tuesday. They said their first point of protest would be at the National Assembly Complex, followed by the Office of the Ministry of Education, and thereafter that of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

In a letter dated October 13, 2020 by the Senate of NAUS, a body comprising the presidents of the Students’ Union Government of various universities, the association said students had stayed “for too long” at home and therefore demanded an immediate end to the strike.

The letter was co-signed by the Senate President of NAUS, Ibrahim Lawal; Deputy Senate President, Asiwaju Ajibowu; and the Clerk, Gbande Abraham.

Speaking with our correspondent on the upcoming protest, Lawal said it was because the government failed to respond to a letter NAUS wrote to enquire what efforts were being made to end the prolonged strike.

He said, “We are inviting all students to come out and protest because we have overstayed at home, and education is important. In August, we wrote a letter to the Minister of Education [Mallam Adamu Adamu] on the reopening of schools. We asked what efforts were in place to end the ASUU strike. But the minister has not responded to our letter for over two months. We have been patient enough to hear from the minister and he has refused to respond. We are tired.

Politics

#EndSARS: Thugs Attack Osun Gov

October 17, 2020 No Comments

Governor of Osun State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, narrowly escaped on Saturday as he was attacked by armed thugs while addressing the #EndSARS protest in Osogbo.

Armed with cutlasses and sticks the hoodlums swooped on the governor at Olaiya junction, while he was addressing the #EndSARS protesters in the state capital. The governor was immediately ferried away from the scene by his security details.

Vehicles in the governor’s convoy were also attacked and damaged as the hoodlums threw stones at the convoy.

Governor Oyetola had joined protesters in the walk from Alekuwodo area to Olaiya junction in the state capital, singing with them and promising them that their demands will be looked into.

Oyetola also assured the protesters that he supported their peaceful agitations, which he said was part of democratic process.

However, while still addressing the youths, hoodlums swooped on the gathering.

Politics

Save the people, Buhari’s wife tweets

October 17, 2020 No Comments

The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has called on her husband, Muhammadu Buhari, and service chiefs to “save the people”.

Mrs Buhari tweeted a video of her husband Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in a meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, accompanied with the Hausa word, #Achechijamaa, which means “save the people”.

A Hausa song calling on the President to save the North was also playing in the background.

The song loosely translates as “Please look at our condition. We need your help. The North is crying. There is insincerity. Our blood is being spilled. Our property is being destroyed. Intervene in our situation, baba.”

Thousands of Nigerians, mostly youths, have been protesting across major cities in the country demanding an end to police brutality and killings.

Some northern elements have also begun a protest calling on an end to banditry and insecurity across Nigeria.

Politics

FG should begin police reform to end protests

October 17, 2020 No Comments

A former lawmaker, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, has urged the Federal Government to begin the process of police reform to douse the ongoing nationwide protests against police brutality by Nigerian youths.

Ohuabunwa, who represented Abia North in the Eighth Senate, made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Saturday.

He said that police reform would help restore public confidence in the police force.

Ohuabunwa also advised the Federal Government to enter into serious negotiation with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in order to find a lasting solution to the seven-month-old industrial dispute by the union.

He feared that the two knotty issues could snowball into a monstrous national crisis, if not properly addressed.

He said: “Government should act fast and responsibly to end the agitations. It should take cogent steps to yield to the yearnings of the protesters.

“It is a bad omen for any government to allow aggrieved youths to continue to protest on the streets for days.

“Recall that the Arab Spring, which brought down autocratic regimes in some Arab nations, began this way with aggrieved youths.”

Ohuabunwa described the #EndSARS protests as a spontaneous response to police brutality, which had lingered for many years unchecked.

He expressed concern that there was a nexus between the EndSARS protests and the ASUU strike, saying that idle undergraduates remained ready and willing tools for anti-government protests.

Ohuabunwa noted that resolving the Federal Government-ASUU impasse would help to take the youths off the streets and back to classrooms.

He said that the lingering ASUU strike would have a negative impact on the nation’s education sector and the future of the youths.

“The Federal Government should address ASUU’s demands because lecturers are making a tremendous contribution to nation-building,” Ohuabunwa said.

He warned anti-riot police personnel against the use of force in dealing with protesters, saying that “citizens have the right to peaceful protest as guaranteed in the constitution”.

Ohuabunwa, who is a proponent of restructuring Nigeria, added that the current agitation by the nation’s youths underscored the need for the Federal Government to commence the nation’s restructuring without further delay.

According to him, the current developments in the country have heightened the agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Entertainment, Politics

Tacha admonishes End Sars protesters at Lekki to focus on the essence of the protest.

October 17, 2020 No Comments

Ex Big Brother Naija housemate, Tacha has taken to her Instagram page to address End Sars protesters. She admonished protesters at Lekki toll gate to focus on the essence of the protest.

Tacha has shown so much support towards the protest since it started, she went as far as travelling to her state “Port harcourt” to support her people.

She mentioned that youths have to be involved in the panel being set up to negotiate with the federal government. Below is the video she shared to admonish Nigerian youths.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGcIuCLDJr7/?igshid=31bcg9j6mj7z

Politics

Prof Yemi Osinbajo has released a speech to address End Sars protesters.

October 17, 2020 No Comments

Vice president of Nigeria,Professor Yemi Osinbajo has released a speech concerning police brutality and the demand of youths to End Sars. He apologised for the incompetence on the government part to address the issue urgently. Below is the speech Professor Osinbajo released via his Twitter account.

Dear Nigerians, I know that many of you are angry, and understandably so. We could’ve moved faster and for this we are sorry.

I fully understand how many young people feel. Many feel that we have been too silent and have simply not done enough.
These feelings of frustration are justified.

There are far too many people who have been brutalised at the hands of the police and this is unacceptable. We must take responsibility for protecting young people, even sometimes from those who are paid to protect them.

Over the past week, we have been following the protests, and I have had a number of discussions with key people in the administration that you deserve to be informed about. Transparency, after all, is a key tenet of government.

Several meetings have been held with: the @SPLawan, @femigbaja, the Chief of Staff to @MuhammaduBuhari, Chairman of the @PoliceServiceC2, the IG of @PoliceNG (IGP), the Executive Secretary of @NHRCNigeria, and governors.

We understand that you want to see action from us and I’m here to tell you that work is ongoing. I chaired a meeting of 36 state governors and the Minister of the FCT (NEC), where we resolved to set up judicial panels of inquiry so we can see justice served, and fast.

The reason being that only state governors, by law, can set up judicial inquiries in their states. The hearings will be public. With Mr. President’s approval, SARS has been completely disestablished, and none of its former members will feature in any police tactical units.

I am sending my deepest condolences to the families of Jimoh Isiaq, and all those who have lost their lives at the hands of wayward police officers. To those injured, I wish a full and speedy recovery.

We have proposed that each state government set up a Victims’ Support Fund, which @NigeriaGov will support. This is the least that we can do to compensate for the injustice suffered at the hands of errant officers.We also understand that the issues that you’re raising are bigger than just SARS. They’re deep and systemic and we’re undertaking comprehensive measures that will revamp the police by addressing issues of welfare, service conditions and training.

On Monday, Mr. President also reiterated his commitment to these extensive police reforms.

We will continue to update and engage with you all on these action steps and the ones to come, in the spirit of transparency, so that you can hold us accountable. We are, after all, here to serve you and we owe you a duty to win back your trust. Keep safe. God bless you.

Politics

End SARS: AD Chieftain, Alao blasts Makinde over donation of N100m for damaged Soun’s palace

October 16, 2020 No Comments

A chieftain of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Oyo State, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has condemned Governor Seyi Makinde of the state over the donation of N100m to the Soun of Ogbomoso for the rehabilitation of a portion of his palace partially destroyed on Sunday.

DAILY POST recalls that some angry protesters had on Sunday invaded the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi and destroyed some property.

Makinde who visited the palace on Monday announced the donation of N100m for the rehabilitation of the damaged portion of the palace.

He also announced the sum of N1m each for families of those who lost their lives during the protests.

But Oyedele Hakeem Alao has faulted the decision of the Governor for donating N100m for the rehabilitation of a damaged portion of the palace. He described the donation as reckless spending, considering the financial situation of the state.

Alao, who contested the gubernatorial election on the platform of AD in 2019 general elections, added that the state is not buoyant to the point of doling out 2 per cent of monthly allocation to repair some damaged property at the palace.

The AD chieftain in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Friday through his Media Aide, Omotayo Iyanda, declared that as a good public finance manager, it is wrong for Makinde to just deep his hand into public coffers and spend recklessly.

He said, “In the wake of the #EndSARS protest in Ogbomoso, the palace of our aged royal father was badly vandalized out of unmitigated anger by our irate youth. Our father, Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade, had little or no power to mitigate the situation.

“It is commendable that our governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde promptly visited Ogbomoso land but it is appalling that Governor Makinde could be so reckless again to publicly announce N100m for the rehabilitation of the damaged portions of the palace. Oyo State government is not buoyant to the point of doling out almost 2% of its monthly allocation. Interestingly, N1m was announced to be donated to the families of those that lost their lives.

“We are not saying our governor should not support our royal father’s palace or the other people. What we are saying is that there are better other ways to come to the aid of the people in distress. Our governor can appeal to the indigenes of Ogbomoso and other Oyo State residents to come together to rescue the situation. As a good public finance manager, you do not just deep your hand into public coffers and spend recklessly”.

Alao added that the End SARS protests across the country is not all about banning SARS but an expression of the peoples’ anger against bad governance.

“It is very obvious that this mass protest significantly by our youths across the country is not only about “End SARS” but is an expression of the peoples’ anger against bad governance, widespread corruption, unemployment, nepotism, cronyism, increasing cost of living, insecurity, poor infrastructure and lack of basic human necessity of food, housing and decent allowance. It is crystal clear from the protests across the country that the Nigerians are getting to the climax of their endurance. It is disheartening and dangerous that the protests do not have clear leadership yet.

‘This is worrisome as it is almost identical to the Arab upspring of 2011. President Muhammadu Buhari, all members of the political class, our royal fathers, religious leaders and civil society groups should rise up to save this country from the stroke of fire that could engulf it so soon.

“However, it is not enough to just scrap SARS and come up with another police formation in the name of SWAT just three days after the disbandment of the dreaded SARS. And worse still, the IGP Muhammed Adamu has stated that some members of the disbanded SARS are still going to be re-integrated into the new SWAT.

“The question is: do we need a new police formation right now? What have we done with other formations not scrapped? Is scrapping the real action needed to get a responsible corrupt-free policing in Nigeria? What about the huge cost of setting up a new police formation? Will the new set-up be able to face the challenges of the insecurity in the country? How will the IGP monitor the new formation to ensure it does not revert to SARS antics? Are there going to be regular courses for the members of the SWAT team on human behaviour and civility?”.

Politics

Lauretta Onochie: US told to prevail on Buhari against destroying INEC’s independence, integrity

October 16, 2020 No Comments

Deji Adeyanju, convener of Concerned Nigerian, has urged the United States, US, to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari not to destroy the integrity and independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Adeyanju made the appeal while condemning Buhari’s nomination of his aide, Lauretta Onochie as an INEC Commissioner.

The activist explained that Onochie’s nomination was unconstitutional and illegal.

In a letter to the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Adeyanju described Onochie as partisan and a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to the activist, Nigeria’s constitution prohibits card-carrying members of a political party from becoming an INEC official.

He, therefore, urged the US Ambassador to prevail on Buhari to rescind his nomination.

Adeyanju said: “Nomination of Lauretta Onochie: Prevail on President Buhari not to Destroy the Independence of INEC.

“We write to you as friends of Nigeria and strong democratic partners of our nation on the above subject matter.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of his Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner from Delta State is a reprehensible attempt to destroy the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral commission.

“Lauretta Onochie is an openly partisan, card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party, who constantly attacks and denigrates critics of the ruling party.

“Her appointment is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void, and unacceptable to the generality of the Nigerian people. We appeal to you to pressure President Buhari to rescind this appoint as it is capable of reversing the gains made in our electoral processes.”

Politics

Activists call for suspension of #ENDSARS protest

October 16, 2020 No Comments

A civil society group, Activists for Good Governance (AGG) and its allies have called for suspension of the #EndSARS protest to allow the Federal Government and police authorities carry out the promised reforms.

AGG made the call at a press conference on the #EndSARS protest at the International Press Centre at Ogba on Friday.

Co-Convener of AGG, Comrade Gbenga Soloki, said the government has to demonstrate genuine commitment to fulfill the promises made so as to restore the confidence of the people.

The Convener, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, called on the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu to step down honourably and apologise to Nigerians it took this long to scrap and replace SARS despite series of their activities he had been aware of.

Soloki said. “The sad truth is, trust has been lost! But the Nigerian government has the opportunity to rally the civil society and the organized private sector now to stem the tide and win the trust of the Nigerian people by implementing a comprehensive reform of the Nigerian police.”

AGG stated further if within one week it does not see a genuine demonstration of the commitment, it will not hesitate to call out its members across the nation for a coordinated action against the Federal Government “that will make the on-going rehearsal look like a kindergarten prep”.

While acknowledging the disbanding of SARS by the IG, Soloki said what is required today is complete review and overhaul of the policing system in Nigeria.

He said: “We are of the view that the hasty renaming of SARS as another Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWAT) is a poorly concieved approach to solving an endemic problem.

“We don’t just want a change in name but a complete reform of the standard operating procedure of the new crime-bursting outfit and indeed the Nigerian police.”

AGG asked government which to put an immediate end to all forms of police brutality, setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry into the operation of the disbanded SARS to bring offenders to book.

Other activists present at the briefing were: Rasak Oladosu of Grasdroot Democratic Initiative; Shina Loremikan of Campaign Against Impunity and Raheem Ajayi of The Development Initiative and others

Politics

FG and ASUU meets again on October 21st.

October 16, 2020 No Comments

On Thursday, 15th of October 2020, the federal government reached an agreement with the academic staff union of universities (ASUU) reached an agreement. In the meeting, the federal government has agreed to release N30billion earned academic allowance to the lecturers between May 2021 and February 2022.

The FG also promised to spend N20bn on the revitalization of the educational sector. Despite the agreement reached by the FG and ASUU, the meeting ended on deadlock. The meeting has been adjourned to October 21 by 3.00pm.

It is expected that ASUU will report back with a decision to end the strike.

Politics

I have been receiving curses- Femi Adesina

October 16, 2020 No Comments

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says he has been receiving curses and messages from hell due to false reports that he was against the #EndSARS protests.

Adesina, who is the President’s most senior spokesman, said this in an article titled, ‘An Enemy of the People’ published on Thursday evening.

He said an online medium had falsely accused him of telling the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to ignore the protests and not give in to the demands of ‘Twitter warriors’.

The President’s spokesman said someone went ahead to post his telephone numbers on social media which led to him receiving calls and hate messages.

Adesina stated that he received a second round of attacks when an old interview he had granted Channels Television on the ‘Revolution Now’ protests was twisted to make it appear as if he was referring to the #EndSARS protests.
The President’s spokesman thanked Channels TV for clarifying the interview but said despite the move by the television station, the attacks did not stop.

He wrote, “Those who wanted to, believed the television station. A large number chose not to , bombarded my phone lines with curses, expletives and messages from the pit of hell. Well, if anybody chooses to belong to that nether region, it’s a matter of choice.

“Talking about the bombardment of my phone lines, it had begun on Sunday. A hateful mind had published my two numbers on Twitter, urging people to troll me. They called till the phone batteries went dead. Mum was the word from me.”

Adesina said he never advised the President to ignore the #EndSARS protests rocking the nation.

He stated that the online medium that published the report did not give him a chance to respond to the allegations thereby opening him to attacks.

Adesina claimed many people hated him because they were envious of his position as the President’s spokesman.

Politics

Governor Sanwo-Olu confirms the apprehension of 4 police officers over misconduct.

October 15, 2020 No Comments

Lagos state governor , Babajide Sanwo-Olu has addressed the public concerning the ridiculous attacks on peaceful protesters by sponsored hoodlums.

In his speech, he announced that 4 police officers who were involved in Surulere disruption have been apprehended. Watch the video below to listen to his speech.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwoolu has announced the apprehension of the police officers involved in disrupting the #SURULEREPROTEST #EndSarsProtests pic.twitter.com/NfXGhH7Ngl
— OSG (@OloriSupergal) October 15, 2020

Politics

Protesters march on Nigerian parliament after army threatens to step in

October 15, 2020 No Comments

LAGOS/ABUJA (Reuters) – Hundreds of protesters marched to the gates of Nigeria’s parliament on Thursday, hours after the army said it was ready to step in and restore order after more than a week of demonstrations against police brutality.

The protest defied a ban on mass rallies in the capital Abuja that the government said was imposed earlier on Thursday to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Chanting crowds also blocked roads and waved flags and banners in the commercial hub Lagos, where protesters reported clashing with unidentified men wielding weapons.

Video on social media appeared to show men coming out of a bus and chasing protesters, though Reuters could not verify the footage.

“We have suffered enough. We youths want to stand – no more brutality,” one demonstrator, Obinna Paul, said in another part of the city where crowds blocked a toll gate funnelling traffic to and from the main airport.

Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on Twitter he condemned the attacks on peaceful protesters “by armed and unscrupulous elements trying to cause chaos”.

Late on Wednesday, the military issued a statement titled “Nigerian Army warns subversive elements and trouble makers”.

“The NA (Nigerian Army) is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively,” it said.

Protesters have staged daily marches since Wednesday last week, calling for an overhaul of police forces.

Police had responded to the demonstrations with beatings, tear gas and gunfire, which human rights group Amnesty International said had killed at least 10 people. But the police agreed on Tuesday to stop using force against protesters.

In response to the protests, the head of Nigeria’s police force on Sunday dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit that demonstrators have accused of beatings, killings and extortion.

Demonstrators have called for more meaningful reforms. Protesters say they fear a new unit, whose creation to “fill the gaps” left by SARS was announced on Tuesday, was just a rebranding of the squad.

Politics

FG accuses ASUU of being responsible for #EndSARS protests, civil unrest

October 15, 2020 No Comments

The Federal Government on Thursday accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of being responsible for the on-going #EndSARS protest and other civil unrest across the country, saying that its prolong industrial action has largely encouraged the protest and unrest.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, made the allegation against the university lecturers while speaking at the conciliatory meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU in Abuja.

The Labour minister as the head of Federal Government delegation, led the meeting, while ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, led the Union delegation.

Ngige believes that if ASUU has not been on strike and the university students are currently in schools, the widespread protest wouldn’t have been possible.

Notwithstanding, the minister pointed out that the government was working tirelessly to ensure that the matter is resolve for students to return to school.

On the University Transparency and Accountability System(UTAS), which is the alternative provided by the union after rejecting the government’s IPPIS, Ngige explained that government has done the first test out of the three to be done on the platform.

He stated that ASUU has presented UTAS platform against the use of Integrated Personal and Payroll System (IPPIS) which has being the caused of the industrial action.

According to the minister: “For the past one week, we have all been on our toes, we have been meeting and we pray that this meeting will yield some good fruits. We don’t take very great pleasure to the fact that the children who are supposed to be in school are being recruited into the #EndSARS, #EndStrike, #EndSWAT and all the kind of situations. As much as possible, we will try to see how we can meet ourselves halfway, so that we can resolve this crisis to the benefits of all and the country at large.”

Ngige pointed out that the government has commenced the process of testing UTAS which ASUU members claimed it accommodates the peculiarities of the university systems, adding that all the three stages of the test will be concluded within the time frame the union gave the government.

He said: “We have had the preliminary report and test run on the UTAS, which is the University Transparency Accountability Solution. We believe that with that, we will be able to get it right.

“Let me make it clear to members of the press, we never said UTAS will replace IPPIS as some of you are reporting. No! The UTAS developed by them is for the university systems and they feel that it captures the peculiarities that are configured to accommodate all the peculiarities of the university systems especially as it affects the Professors and other teaching staff, and even the non-academic staff. That is the situation.

“We, as government feel we are going to put it up for tests – three stages of test. We have done the first stage of test which is within the timeline of six months that ASUU promised. We are going to do other integrity test, Alpha test, Beta test and the one they call roll-over and other whatever test. It is the technologists that know all those tests. But this is the round we are going on now.”

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